Thursday, December 12, 2013

There
are only 9 more shopping days until Christmas!Yes, 9… I just cannot believe this year is almost over.We are almost to the major giving day in
most of the world.We are giving $1.00
of every order from now until Christmas Eve to the USO & Marine Corp Toys
for Tots program.Celtic Attic has
adopted 2 children from our local giving tree and will get them holiday gifts
as well.

We
are still running our Half Off Shipping special all the way until Christmas
(does not apply to express shipping requests).We decided to leave our Black Friday/Cyber Monday special online until
Christmas Eve.We have 25 items that
you can get at a discount of 15% off the retail price, while supplies last.The coupon code is BlackFriday and you can
shop now.We have put all our Black
Friday/Cyber Monday specials on the shopping portal A
Celtic Calling.The sale is listed
on the front page.

We
have about 1200 products now on the A Celtic Calling.com shopping portal.We have about 300 more to add, so if you
don’t see what you’re looking for be sure to visit celtic attic.com. We will
have the websites completely remodeled by end of January for ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Shopping!

Most
of your Favorite Celtic Attic goodies are now in the new store location along
with a wide variety of other gifts and jewelry.We have balloon baskets, gift baskets and so much more!It is a Celtic & Gift Shop
Paradise.We have just launched our
line of Fairy Bath products in the store.The store address is 408 Pacific Ave, Bremerton WA 98337.For those that would love to visit and get
your Celtic on, drop by Tues-Sat 11am-6PM.

Just a little bit of Irish

Most
Cultures can trace their paths back to a time when there were no computers,
automobiles or airplanes.The Celtic
peoples origins can be traced far back to antiquity.For the ancient Celts, grand tales were told by word of mouth
and passed from parent to child and to the clan.Imagine a vibrant bonfire of orange and yellow flames shooting
towards the night sky.Close your eyes
and see a clan of Irish Celts sharing tales of Giant Trolls chasing a wee Fairy
Princess through the wooded forest.Envision now if you will a culture that did not write down a single word
of its most precious and prized tales.Can you hear them speak?Listen
to the wind as it passes grand stories and adventures through the air.What of these people?Why did they not write down for future
generations their most prized tales and visions?Join me know as we explore an ancient way of communication from
the Celtic Lands.Come let us explore
the world of the Celtic Knot and what these strange and entrancing symbols
meant to the Celts and mean to us today.Hurry the land of Shamrocks and Heather as it beckons you listen and
observe!Welcome to the Celtic Lands.

The
Celts have been around for quite some time.There is much magic and mysticism associated with these people and with
the land of Erin, the Emerald Isle and all the British Isles indeed.Modern folk are attracted to the Celtic
Knotwork of these lands.Spirals, Key
Patterns, Interwoven Love Knots and Geometrically perfect symbols.What do all these symbols mean?Does each have a place in history?Did the Gods and Goddesses wear these
symbols?Did the mortals design them
out of reverence for their world and surroundings?Does the Spiraling knot shaped like hearts truly represent
“Love”?Ah to answer this question in a
mystical and enchanting way is quite the challenge on the part of Historians,
Secular & Religious folk alike.

Before the time of the Christian
influence on the Celts, the only known Celtic Knotwork consisted of simple
geometrical patterns.While they were
ornate, delicate and painstakingly crafted, I am sure; they did not represent
anything specific to the ancient Celts. They did not create the love knot to
express adoration of their spouse, nor did they create the peace knot in hopes
of ending the Roman occupation of the British Isles.The basic premise of life was simple for the Celts, all things
were revered and worshiped, but I do not believe and Historians have debated
this, that they created Knotwork as symbolism.It is more likely they created it as a lovely way of adorning their
land, their person and their dwellings.This early Knotwork did not feature plants, animals or humans.As most early Pre-Christian civilizations,
they might possibly have believed that making a representation of any living
thing was contrary to their belief of the interconnectedness of life.To form a symbol would be to take away the very
spirit of what they were trying to represent.

As
time marched on in the Celtic lands and Christianity and its teachings came to
the Emerald Isle and the other cultures, the Knotwork symbols were
re-born.Christian Celtic artwork was
strongly influenced by pagan Celtic sources. It is only in the artwork of the
post Pagan era that we see Knotwork representing a certain idea or aspect of
life. The Christian Celts added human, plant, and animal forms to their
glorious Knotwork designs.The most
famous example of this artwork form is the beautiful illuminated manuscripts –
The Book of Kells. Images of the ancient lands and of a people that were
steeped in magic and mysticism come to life in the Book of Kells and other
Knotwork manuscripts. The Crane, Raven and the Dog are gloriously depicted in
the Book of Kells.The Celtic cross,
which is now one of the best-known symbols of Irish Christianity, was
introduced in this post Pagan era.

Today
Celtic Knotwork symbols have been assigned attributes and meanings.This is a modern interpretation and
re-design of the ancient Knotwork patterns.I will mention a few to entice your appetite to explore this symbolism
further.Keep in mind these are the
modern interpretations.The modern
Eternity Celtic knot symbolizes the never-ending eternal circle of life.The Shield Celtic knot is a symbol for
protection.The claddagh is a
traditional celtic symbol, the hands are for friendship, the heart is for love
and the crown is for loyalty and sometimes this symbol has Knotwork woven into
it.The Celtic Love Knot can enliven
relationships, heighten passions and attract true love.The Triscele was a sacred symbol to the
Celtic People. It represents the eternal rhythm of life that we are all a part
of.The traditional ancient Knotwork
Interlace pattern is probably the most common pattern. Basically it looks like
strands of braided strips that bend and weave amongst themselves. It could
possibly represent the interconnection of life and the universe. The Trinity
knot spirals are included in this grouping and may occur in double, triple or
quadruple swirls. Spirals are typically joined to one another in either an
"S" or a "C" type format. They may represent the universe,
heavens, and water or an individual's journey through life.I am sure as you explore the various
Knotwork patterns of both the ancient Celtic People and the modern Christian
art, you will see meanings within meanings.After all, artwork is about inspiration and magic and vision.Open your vision to see the sacred Knotwork
of any ancient people still in use today. Copyright Kristin Olsen 2012

Irish
Potatoes Soup

Christmas Punch a la Shirley

1 can orange juice 1 quart

1 can pineapple juice 1 quart

1 can apricot nectar 1 ping

1-quart rye or bourbon

Combine above, let set in refrigerator.When ready to use add 1-quart club soda and ice.

Friday, December 6, 2013

There
are only 13 more shopping days until Christmas!Yes, 13… This year has gone by in a whirlwind.We are almost to the major giving day in
most of the world.We are giving $1.00
of every order from now until Christmas Eve to the USO & Marine Corp Toys
for Tots program.Celtic Attic has
adopted 2 children from our local giving tree and will get them holiday gifts
as well.

We
are still running our Half Off Shipping special all the way until Christmas
(does not apply to express shipping requests).We decided to leave our Black Friday/Cyber Monday special online until
Christmas Eve.We have 25 items that you
can get at a discount of 15% off the retail price, while supplies last.The coupon code is BlackFriday and you can
shop now.We have put all our Black
Friday/Cyber Monday specials on the shopping portal A
Celtic Calling.The sale is listed
on the front page.

We
have about 1200 products now on the A Celtic Calling.com shopping portal.We have about 300 more to add, so if you
don’t see what you’re looking for be sure to visit celtic attic.com.

We
will be giving away a Christmas Treat Basket! (Gift Basket includes - 2 Holiday
coffee mugs, Irish or Scottish Tea, Irish Candy Treats bag and a Celtic
Pendant! Value $60.00) Enter Now! Anyone that enters now, will be put
into the Christmas Giveaway drawing...We will draw two winners for Celtic
Pendants for November as well… http://www.celticattic.com/contact_us/free_giveaway.htm

Most
of your Favorite Celtic Attic goodies are now in the new store location along
with a wide variety of other gifts and jewelry.We have balloon baskets, gift baskets and so much more!It is a Celtic & Gift Shop Paradise.We have just launched our line of Fairy Bath
products in the store.The store address
is 408 Pacific Ave, Bremerton WA 98337.For those that would love to visit and get your Celtic on, drop by
Tues-Sat 11am-6PM.

Just a little bit of Irish

Well
what if you could see fairies and they were chasing butterflies in your
backyard?Would the world think you
sane?Would you care?Let me tell you of the Irish Fae Folk and
then you can decide for yourself if they are real or not.If you do believe, maybe you can bring the
magic of the Fairyland into your life.

Most
Fairies today are seen as beautiful fluttering creatures that you see out of
the corner of your eye or just imagine them to be dancing around happily.Not so of the ancient Celtic realms.Sidhe (pronounced Shee, a fairy) and other
magical creatures lived with human kind.They were there to possibly teach and assist the human folk of the
land.Since they were a part of the
life process you have the mean, ugly, beautiful, sad, happy and death fairies
of the Celtic Isles.The people of the
Isles call their fairies wee folk.Lets
take a brief look at some Fae Folk.

Have
you ever had your heart leap and you had to stop and catch your breath?Have you ever thought about a place, a
thing, or a person and felt that you just belonged there, like your heart and
soul were in some way intertwined with it?Close our eyes and see green trees, wide open lush valleys, streams
teaming with fish, fairies dancing, dragons roaming and leprechauns running
freely with human kind and of course magick a glitter everywhere.Welcome to the land of Erin.Come, SHH… you don’t want to awaken the
Banshee Fairy!

The
belief in fairies is an almost universal attribute of early folk culture.Fairies are magickal creatures that
entertain children and adults alike.For adults the fairy represents the innocence of youth and the promise
that there is something more than just what we see.Most adults have lost the ability to see fairies peeking out from
behind a tree or chasing a butterfly across the lawn.To read about the Fae folk takes us back to childhood and cotton
candy, slip n slides and magic.

The
Leprechaun:A solitary creature
avoiding contact with mortals and other fairies.He is usually making shoes or protecting his pot of gold.It is said that if a mortal catches a
leprechaun and sternly demands his treasure, he will give it to him. He is very
symbolic of Ireland.

Merrows:The female is also called a mermaid (murúch)
or a sea-maiden (maighdean mhara).She
has the tail of a fish and web-like scales between her fingers; she is most
lovely and graceful.The male sits on a
rock, always scanning the sea for cases of brandy lost from wrecked ships.

Silkies:Are seals by day but men and women by
night.They are fabled to be extreme
beauties.

Lianhan
Shee: Love Fairy.She seeks the love of
mortal men at a high cost.She creates
such desire in her lovers that they will overcome all obstacles to embrace her.
She does insist on meeting her lovers in Tir-na-n-Og.Mortal men must die to enjoy her fairy delights.

Irish
Potatoes Soup

6
medium potatoes

2
medium onions

3
pints of stock or milk and water mixed

1-tablespoon
butter

Parsley

Salt
& pepper to taste

Peel
and dice and potatoes and chop onions.Melt butter and gently cook the onions and potatoes in a covered
saucepan until soft but not colored.Add the liquid, add seasoning to taste.Cook for a while until warm.Serve in bowls and decorate with chopped parsley.

About Me

I am a small business owner and love what I do. It has allowed me to raise my boys and teach them about life and work and doing the best they can in whatever path they choose. Visit us at our store in Bremerton WA 408 Pacific Ave or online at celticattic.com